Interior of the Diwan-i-Khas, showing the great central column, Fatehpur Sikri 1003556

Photograph of the Diwan-i-Khas at Fatehpur Sikri, from the Archaeological Survey of India Collections, taken by Edmund William Smith in 1893. The Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience) is situated in the palace city of Fatehpur Sikri, built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar (r.1556-1605) from 1571 to 1585. The entire complex is built of locally quarried red sandstone, known as Sikri sandstone. The Diwan-i-Khas is a plain square building with four chhatris on the roof. The interior is unusual; in the centre there is a large carved pillar whose sixteen-sided serpentine brackets support a circular platform which is connected to each corner of the building by four stone walkways. The central pillar has a square base with an octagonal central shaft, both carved with bands of geometric and floral designs.